Winx Stakes (Group 1)

CHRIS Waller was business as usual on Saturday, dominating the first Group 1 of the new racing season with four of the first five across the line.

Randwick played host to the A$1 million Winx Stakes, over 1,400 metres while also catering for seven sets of owners from the stable, as the Chris Waller team provided almost half of the 16-horse field.

Carrying the iconic cerise colours of the Ingham family of Woodlands fame, the Sebring mare Fangirl made up for her second place in this race last year to Anamoe to secure her second Group 1 win.

Fangirl swooped over the top of Zaaki in the closing stages before the five-year-old mare just got the better of her American-bred stablemate Princess Grace, denying the Karakontie mare by a neck on the line.

150th Group 1

The Waller stable also supplied fourth and fifth via Hinged and Osipenko. With James McDonald in the saddle, the victory provided a 150th Group 1 win for Waller who saddled up his first in 2008, while for McDonald, it was his 80th Group 1 win.

“She changed my life and it was good for racing,” said Chris Waller acknowledging Winx.

“We’ve just got an amazing team that keep producing for the horses, one Group 1 you never forget, but to win 150 I thank my team. She (Winx) just took us to a level we weren’t used to and I wouldn’t say we enjoyed it, but it just took over your life.”

THE top-priced filly from the 2022 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Charm Spirit, had her first start since February, landing the Group 3 Quezette Stakes over 1,100 metres at Caulfield on Saturday.

“She’s a lot cooler, calmer and in for a big preparation. We want to win a Group 1,” said Micheal Kent of the A$1.55 million I Am Invincible filly.

“For fillies in the spring, there’s lots of smaller stakes options, but the big ones are the Golden Rose or the Coolmore. The Coolmore is a long way away, we’ll talk to Damian (Lane), and (co-trainer) Mick (Price), I think her best trip is 1,200 metres.”

Charm Spirit’s win brought up a treble for Lane who saved his highest praise for Charm Spirit; “I really think she’s a little bit special, this horse.”

JAMIE Kah returned to race riding taking four rides at Randwick last Saturday, the best result of which was her third place on Zaaki in the Group 1 Winx Stakes.

Back in Victoria the following day, Kah landed her first win since her fall at Flemington on March 11th. From her only ride for the day, she got home in the final few strides aboard All Black for co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr).

“Running third felt like we’d won yesterday, he ran super,” said Kah when asked of Zaaki’s performance. “I’m just happy to be back.”

THE Irish-bred White Marlin, long considered a top Melbourne Cup chance since his six-length win at Flemington over 2,800 metres on Cup day last year, is facing extended time on the sidelines having reportedly sustained injuries to both fore tendons.

The injuries were discovered last Saturday. Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the Mastercraftsman six-year-old has won four and been second twice from six starts in Australia.

THE Australian Trainers’ Association is worried rising financial pressures are going to force trainers into mergers and possibly out of the industry.

“Post Covid is when the troubles are really becoming more obvious,” said ATA CEO Andrew Nicholl. “So I think from a training perspective, there certainly are significant pressures, more pressures than I’ve seen in 20 years in this industry for stables to make ends meet.

“I can tell you I’ve seen trainers who have had bills go from A$80,000 to $200,000, so the industry has a challenge on WorkCover (compulsory employee insurance).”

According to Nicholl, trainers’ fees per horse are $90-$110 a day in regional areas, while Melbourne is around “$140 to $150”.